EA046089B1 - METHOD OF GRAIN SORTING - Google Patents

Description

Field of technology

The invention relates to a method for sorting grain. In particular, the present invention relates to an on-line cereal grain sorting device and method, with a production throughput (100 t/h) providing individual storage based on a selected parameter of the cereal grain being considered for sorting.

State of the art

Cereal grain acceptance criteria for use in various industries require the measurement of a number of cereal grain parameters. This ensures the identification of the most suitable lots of cereal grains, as well as the storage and subsequent use of homogeneous lots of cereal grains.

Some modern solutions offered to industries for measuring quality parameters of cereal grains are based mainly on individual sampling of each bulk batch of cereal grains received and their subsequent measurement using laboratory equipment. Some companies have developed methods and devices that can measure large quantities of cereal grains, but the limiting factor remains the throughput with which such equipment can be processed. Various companies offer solutions for on-line measurement of various parameters of cereal grains, which either have limited system capacity and are therefore not suitable for production scale, or the measured values are collected for informational purposes only, without any action for separating into different batches of cereal grains cereals based on the quality of the cereal grain.

US 2013/168301 A1 discloses a device and method for sorting particles such as seeds, grains, etc. US Pat. No. 4,057,146 A discloses an optical device for sorting beans or grains that provides sorting by size and color. US Pat. No. 5,779,058 A describes a device for sorting grain by color.

A grain sorting method and apparatus is described in the inventors' US Pat. No. 8,569,644 for analyzing grain on line and separating the grain into batches based on one or more measured parameter values, such as protein content or moisture content, for example. During the separation process, the grain is divided into homogeneous batches, which is desirable for subsequent grain processing. The object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus of this type.

The essence of the invention

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for analyzing bulk grain on line and dividing the grain into batches, each batch corresponding to at least one preselected grain parameter value, which includes:

continuously feeding grain through an in-line measuring station, analyzing grain by irradiating light onto grain passing through an in-line measuring station, and detecting light reflected from the grain to provide a spectrum of the grain, converting the spectrum to a specified or each parameter value, and separating of grain on a line per batch in response to said or each measured value of a grain parameter, characterized in that the method includes controlling the flow of grain through a measuring station to form an optically dense layer of grain at the measuring station to reflect light emitted onto the grain.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the method includes guiding the grain to deliver the grain in a stream of an optically dense layer of grain past a sensor head at a measuring station.

In another embodiment of the invention, the method includes feeding grain through a feed chute having a sensor unit installed in the side wall of the feed chute at a measuring station, passing the grain delivered through the feed chute into a funnel mounted on the side wall of the sensor unit, forming an optically dense layer of grain through a funnel and feeding grain in a stream of optically dense layer of grain to the side wall past the sensor head of the sensor unit mounted on the side wall.

In another embodiment of the invention, the method includes guiding the grain to feed the grain in a stream of an optically dense layer of grain past a sensor block at a measuring station, feeding the grain through a feed chute having a sensor block mounted on a side wall of the feed chute at the measuring station, passing the grain, fed through the loading chute, through a funnel installed on the side wall in the sensor block, forming an optically dense layer of grain through the funnel and feeding grain in the flow of an optically dense layer of grain to the side wall past the sensor head of the sensor block installed on the side wall, directing the grain between the side the walls of a tapered funnel projecting outward from the side wall of the grain loading chute on which the sensor unit is mounted, and between the inclined guide gate and the side wall of the chute, wherein the inclined guide gate extends between the side walls of the funnel and is spaced from the side wall of the chute on which the touch sensor is mounted block, and

- 1 046089 The installed inclined guide flap tapers inward from the inlet of the funnel to the side wall of the chute on which the sensor unit is mounted.

In another embodiment of the invention, the method includes transporting grain through a measuring station on a grain feed conveyor having a series of spaced-apart blades mounted internally and moved through a respective tray by moving the blades through the corresponding conveyor tray and forming an optically dense layer of grain in the tray between each adjacent a pair of blades.

In another embodiment of the invention, the method includes transporting grain through a measuring station on a grain feed conveyor enclosed in a housing and having a number of spaced apart blades mounted inside and moved through a corresponding tray by moving the blades through the corresponding conveyor tray and forming an optically dense layer of grain in tray between each adjacent pair of blades, wherein the measuring station is mounted on a side wall of the housing and has a sensor unit mounted on the side wall of the housing on the side of the grain feed conveyor for measuring an optically dense layer of grain formed between each adjacent pair of blades.

In another embodiment of the invention, the method includes forming an optically dense layer of grain having a thickness of at least 5 cm.

In another embodiment of the invention, the method includes irradiating near-infrared light onto an optically dense layer of grain to create a near-infrared spectrum of the grain.

In another aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for analyzing bulk quantities of grain on a line and separating the grain into two or more batches in response to at least one measured value of a grain parameter, the apparatus comprising:

a measuring station having a sensor unit;

means for feeding grain past the sensor unit in an optically dense layer of grain;

a light emitter at the measuring station configured to emit light onto the optically dense grain layer to be reflected back to the sensor unit;

a sensor unit for detecting light reflected from the grain to provide a spectrum;

means for converting the spectrum into at least one grain parameter value; and means for separating the grain into two or more batches in response to the measured parameter value.

In another embodiment of the invention, the means for feeding grain past the sensor unit in the optically dense grain layer comprises a funnel having tapered side walls leading to a narrowed neck portion, the sensor head of the sensor unit being mounted on the side of the neck portion for flowing grain in the optically dense layer grains in front of the sensor head.

In another embodiment of the invention, a measuring station is mounted on a grain loading chute, the measuring station having a sensor unit mounted on a side wall of the grain loading chute, a funnel mounted inside the grain loading chute, the funnel comprising tapered funnel side walls extending outward from the side wall of the grain loading chute on which the sensor unit is mounted, an inclined guide flap extending between the side walls of the funnel and spaced from the side wall of the chute on which the sensor unit is mounted, wherein said inclined guide flap tapers inwards from the inlet of the funnel to the side wall of the chute , on which the sensor unit is installed.

In another embodiment of the invention, the ramp gate is curved between an inlet end and an outlet end of the ramp gate.

In another embodiment of the invention, the outlet ends of the tapered side walls of the funnel are connected to a portion of the funnel neck having parallel neck walls extending outward from each side wall of the funnel.

In another embodiment of the invention, the outlet end of the inclined guide flap extends partially into the funnel neck area between the walls of the neck.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the means for supplying grain in the form of an optically dense layer of grain comprises a grain feeding conveyor having a number of spaced apart blades that move along a corresponding tray to form an optically dense layer of grain in the tray between adjacent pairs of blades, the sensor unit being mounted on a side side of the tray.

In another embodiment of the invention, the means for feeding grain in an optically dense layer of grain comprises a grain feeding conveyor having a number of spaced apart blades that move along a respective tray in a position extending vertically upward from the bottom wall of the tray to form an optically dense layer of grain in the tray between adjacent pairs of blades, wherein the grain feed conveyor is mounted inside a housing having a grain inlet end connected to a grain loading chute, and a grain outlet end having at least one discharge chute, wherein the grain feed conveyor communicates between the grain inlet end for grain and the output end for the grain of the body, while the measuring station is installed on the side

- 2 046089 wall of the housing and has a sensor unit mounted on the side wall of the housing on the side of the grain feed conveyor for measuring the optically dense layer of grain formed between each adjacent pair of blades on the grain feed conveyor.

Brief description of graphic materials

The present invention will be better understood from the following description of certain embodiments, which is given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a grain sorting apparatus for implementing the method of the present invention;

fig. 2 is another schematic illustration of a grain sorting apparatus;

fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of a measuring station forming a portion of the device;

fig. 4 is another schematic illustration of a measuring station;

fig. 5 is a perspective view showing an apparatus for implementing another grain sorting method according to the present invention;

fig. 6 is an additional perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 5;

fig. 7 is a detailed schematic illustration of the portion of the device shown in FIG. 5; and fig. 8 is a detailed perspective view of the portion of the device shown in FIG. 5.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

With reference to the drawings and first to FIG. 1-4 illustrate a grain sorting device in accordance with the present invention, designated substantially by the reference numeral 1. The device 1 includes a grain feed chute 2 for feeding bulk cereal grains into the device 1. An in-line measuring station 3 analyzes the selected grain parameters, fed through the loading chute 2 into the device 1. The grain loading chute 2 is discharged onto a horizontal grain sorting conveyor 4, which discharges the grain into storage bins 5, 6 in response to one or more measured grain parameters determined at the measuring station 3.

The measuring station 3 has a sensor unit 7, which contains a near-infrared (NIR) light source for irradiating light onto grain supplied through the grain loading chute 2. Light is reflected from the grain, and sensor 7 detects the reflected light to provide a spectrum of the grain. The spectrometer 8, connected to the sensor unit 7, converts the spectrum into one or more corresponding preselected grain parameter values. The grain parameter values generated by the spectrometer 8 are supplied to the controller 9. The controller 9 then controls the operation of the sorting conveyor 4 in response to the measured grain parameter values to supply the cereal grain to a storage bin 5, 6 having a grain parameter corresponding to the measured grain parameter.

Two storage bins 5, 6 are shown in FIG. 1 and fig. 2 by way of illustration, although it should be understood that any desired number of storage bins may be provided. Discharge chutes 10, 11 communicate between the sorting conveyor 4 and each hopper 5, 6. The inlet 12 of the first discharge chute 10 has a guide plate 14 moved by means of a pneumatic cylinder 15 between a closed position across the inlet 12 covering the inlet 12 and an open position for ensuring the unloading of cereal grains from the sorting conveyor 4 through the unloading chute 10 and into the storage bin 5.

The second discharge chute 11, which is located downstream of the first discharge chute 10, may be provided with a similar guide plate or may be open, as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, when the guide plate 14 in the inlet 12 of the first discharge chute 10 is open, the cereal grain is fed into the first hopper 5, and when the guide plate 14 is closed, the cereal grain is fed into the second hopper 6. The controller 9 regulates the operation of the guide plate 14 in response to the measured grain parameters to supply the cereal grain to the desired hopper 5, 6 to collect uniform cereal grain in each hopper 5, 6.

The sorting conveyor 4 has a box-section body 16 with an inlet end 17 and an outlet end 18. Inside the body 16 there is a grain feed conveyor 19 for feeding grain through the body 16 between the inlet end 17 and the outlet end 18 of the body 16. The grain is unloaded from the loading chute 2 onto the grain feed conveyor 19 is at the inlet end 17 of the housing 16 and is transported by the grain feed conveyor 19 to the output end 18 of the housing 16 for unloading through one of the unloading chutes 10, 11.

In particular, with reference to FIG. 3 and 4, the in-line measuring station 3 is shown in more detail. In this case, the sensor unit 7 is installed on the lower side wall 20 of the grain loading chute 2. Funnel 21 is installed inside the loading chute 2 on the same axis with the sensor block 7 to feed part of the grain passing through the loading chute 2 in the flow of the optically dense layer of grain past the sensor block 7. The flow of the optically dense layer of grain has a depth of about 5 cm at the inner surface 22 lower side wall 20 of the loading chute 2.

- 3 046089

The funnel 21 has an upper tapering section 26 with inwardly tapering side walls 23, 24 leading to a lower narrowed neck section 25, inside of which the sensor head of the sensor unit 7 is installed. The side walls 23, 24 of the funnel and the neck section 25 protrude outward from the inner surface 22 of the bottom side wall 20 of the chute 2. The neck portion 25 is formed by two spaced apart substantially parallel neck walls 33, 34 extending outward and downward from each funnel side wall 23, 24 and forming extensions thereof.

In addition, the inclined guide gate 27 narrows the grain passage 28 through the funnel 21 between the inlet 29 and the outlet 30 of the funnel 21. This ensures a constant grain depth in the sensor unit 7 during the feeding of cereal grain through the grain loading chute 2 for improved accuracy. sensor The inclined guide gate 27 extends between the side wall 23, 24 of the funnel and is spaced from the lower side wall 20 of the loading chute 2. The inclined guide damper 27 tapers inwards from the inlet 29 of the funnel 21 to the lower side wall 20 of the loading chute 2. The outlet end 32 of the damper 27 is spaced apart from the inner surface 22 of the lower side wall 20 of the grain loading chute 2 to the required distance to create the required flow depth of the grain layer on the sensor unit 7, which in this case is about 5 cm. The inclined guide flap 27 can be straight or curved between the inlet end 31 and the output end 32 of the inclined guide valve 27.

In use, grain is fed through the feed chute 2 through an in-line measuring station 3. The sensor unit 7 emits NIR light onto the grain fed through the grain feed chute 2. Light is reflected from the grain, and sensor 7 detects the reflected light to provide a spectrum of the grain. The spectrometer 8, connected to the sensor unit 7, converts the spectrum into one or more corresponding preselected grain parameter values. The grain parameter values generated by the spectrometer 8 are supplied to the controller 9. The controller 9 then controls the operation of the sorting conveyor 4 in response to the measured grain parameter values to supply the cereal grain to a storage bin 5, 6 having a grain parameter corresponding to the measured grain parameter.

Next, with reference to FIG. 5-8 show another grain sorting apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, generally designated by reference numeral 40. Parts similar to those previously described are designated by the same reference numerals. The device 40 has a grain loading chute 42 that discharges into the inlet end 50 of the grain sorting conveyor 44 . The grain sorting conveyor 44 has a box-section housing 46, in the lower part of which an elongated tray 47 is installed. The grain feeding conveyor 48 is installed inside the housing 46 in such a way that the lower passage 49 of the grain feeding conveyor 48 is located in the tray 47 and moves along it between the inlet end 50 and the outlet end 51 of the housing 46 for feeding grain coming from the loading chute 42 at the inlet end 50 into the discharge chutes 10, 11 at the outlet end 51 of the housing 46.

The grain feed conveyor 48 has two spaced apart parallel endless drive chains 52, 53 mounted on drive sprockets 54, 55 at the output end 51 of the housing 46. The drive mechanism 56 rotates the drive sprockets 54, 55, which are mounted on a drive shaft 58 connected to the drive with a drive mechanism 56. Opposite ends of each drive chain 52, 53 are secured to respective rotatable sprockets (not shown) mounted on a rotatable shaft 59 at the input end 50 of the housing 46.

A plurality of spaced apart scraper blades 60 are mounted between the drive chains 52, 53. Each scraper blade 60 extends substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the drive chains 52, 53. Grain supplied from the grain feed chute 42 to the housing 46 is collected in a tray 47 between the scraper blades 60 on the lower passage 49 of the grain feed conveyor 48, which projects vertically upward from the bottom wall 45 of the tray 47, and is fed along the tray 47 between the inlet end 50 and the outlet end 51 of the housing 46 by moving the scraper blades 60 along the tray 47.

In this case, the sensor block 7 is located on the side wall 62 of the housing 46. The depth of the scraper blades 60 is such that the sensor head of the sensor block 7 is completely covered by the depth of grain remaining in the tray 47 between each adjacent pair of scraper blades 60.

The method and apparatus of the present invention are capable of measuring any desired grain parameter, such as protein content, moisture content, etc., in the cereal grain while receiving bulk cereal grain material. The received cereal grains are divided into quality groups based on the various measured levels of the parameter or parameters in question, and each quality group is separated in line and stored in its own bin 5, 6 using the method and apparatus of the present invention. In this way, the cereal grains are divided into homogeneous batches of cereal grains on the lines, which ensures consistently high quality cereal grains during subsequent processing.

It should be understood that the present invention provides a method and apparatus for high-speed, real-time, non-destructive measurement and provides a high level of measurement accuracy.

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Claims (2)

The sensor head of the sensor unit 3 is in direct contact with the cereal grain product and measures the required parameters using NIR technology. To ensure that the NIR sensor gives the correct measured values, measurements are carried out in a compact product flow in which the cereal grains are tightly packed together. The compact product stream is constantly illuminated by NIR light. The absorption characteristics and, therefore, the spectrum of reflected light change depending on the concentration of parameters in the passing cereal grain. By comparing the reflected light with a laboratory-generated calibration database, relevant properties such as protein content can be determined. The terms contains and includes, as well as any derivatives thereof, the use of which is due to grammatical necessity, should be considered interchangeable and representing the maximum possible interpretation. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, which may vary in both construction and detail within the scope of the appended claims. CLAIM 1. A method for analyzing bulk grain on a line and dividing the grain into batches, each of which corresponds to at least one pre-selected grain parameter value, which includes: continuously feeding grain through the in-line measuring station (3), analyzing the grain by irradiating light onto the grain passing through the in-line measuring station (3), and detecting the light reflected from the grain to provide a spectrum of the grain, converting the spectrum to a specified or each parameter value, and dividing the grain into batches on the line in response to said or each measured grain parameter value, characterized in that it includes controlling the flow of grain through the measuring station (3) to form an optically dense layer of grain at the measuring station (3) for reflection light emitted onto the grain, wherein said method includes directing the grain to feed the grain in a stream of an optically dense layer of grain past the sensor block (7) at the measuring station (3), feeding the grain through a loading chute (2) having a sensor block (7), installed on the side wall (20) of the loading chute (2) at the measuring station (3), passing grain fed through the loading chute (2) by means of a funnel (21) installed on the side wall (20) of the loading chute (2) at the sensor block (7), formation of an optically dense layer of grain through a funnel (21) and supply of grain in the flow of an optically dense layer of grain to the side wall (20) past the sensor head of the sensor block (7) installed on the side wall (20) of the loading chute (2 ), the direction of the grain between the side walls of the tapering funnel (23, 24), protruding outward from the side wall (20) of the loading chute (2), on which the sensor unit (7) is installed, and between the inclined guide flap (27) and the side wall of the chute (20), wherein the inclined guide flap (27) passes between the side walls of the funnel (23, 24) and is removed from the side wall of the chute (20), on which the sensor unit (7) is installed, while the specified inclined guide flap (27) tapers inward from the inlet (29) of the funnel (21) to the side wall of the chute (20), on which the sensor block (7) is installed. 2. Apparatus (1) for carrying out the method according to claim 1 for analyzing bulk grain on line and separating the grain into two or more batches in response to at least one measured grain parameter value, comprising: measuring station (3) having a sensor unit (7); means for feeding grain (21) past the sensor block (7) in an optically dense layer of grain; a light emitter at the measuring station (3), configured to emit light onto the optically dense layer of grain for reflection back to the sensor unit (7); a sensor unit (7) for detecting light reflected from the grain to provide a spectrum; means for converting the spectrum (8) into at least one grain parameter value; and means for dividing the grain (14) into two or more batches in response to the measured parameter value, wherein the measuring station (3) is mounted on the grain loading chute (2), wherein the measuring station (3) has a sensor unit (7), mounted on the side wall (20) of the loading chute for grain (2), a funnel (21) installed inside the loading chute for grain (2), wherein the funnel (21) contains tapering side walls of the funnel (23, 24) protruding outward from side wall (20) of the loading chute for grain (2), on which the sensor block (7) is installed, an inclined guide flap (27) passing between the side walls of the funnel (23, 24) and remote from the side wall of the chute (20), on in which the sensor block (7) is installed, while said inclined guide valve (27) tapers inward from the inlet (29) of the funnel (21) to the side wall of the chute (20), on which the sensor block (7) is installed. -